OUR NIECE IS GETTING MARRIED!

Congratulations Rachel & Justin! Rachel will marry Justin McClanahan the end of September at a private family ceremony in Florida. Rachel is the daughter of Julie's sister Lili & Victor Agruso and Justin was just newly drafted to the GCL Blue Jays - Rookie Team for the Toronto Blue Jays. We can't wait to meet you Justin - Welcome to our family!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !

I just wanted to thank my husband publically for being such a great dad and grandfather. Especially this year, Tom has been amazingly supportive of me and our family - I have been away from our home a lot - to Midland to help Reagan, Katie & Will and traveling with my work. Tom never complained - in fact he encouraged - that has meant a lot of nights alone and going to events alone and eating alone....this was one of the ways he could show love to his kids too by sending me to help. Because I was gone so much, a lot didn't get done around here and he didn't complain about that either! He has lived with piles of papers and bills and all kinds of messes and never complained...instead he would tell me to rest when I could or "take care of myself"....by doing that he freed me up to do what I needed to for different family members. I realize sometimes I have thought Dads don't do nearly as much as moms...but what has really become apparent to me this year is that Tom has freed me up to be the Mom and grandmommy and daughter and cousin I needed to be by doing so many things to make it possible for me to go do what I needed to do. What he does workwise makes it possible for our family to spend so much time together..what he does at home (dishes, laundry, closing his eyes to the mess...) has made it possible for me to rest and restore so I could keep on giving. As a man, Tom struggles with not being able to "fix" so many situations in our family but he really has made things better by just being there and caring and doing a lot of things no one else will ever know. Thank you Tom - for accepting me, loving me and always encouraging me...and thanks for laying down your life & desires and loving Katie, Reagan, Adam and Will and your own father...we love you!

Happy Father's Day to Reagan on his first father's day!
And Tom's Dad Jim aka "Great Grandpa" and Julie's Dad Dorsey aka "GG""Great Gaggy!"

FUN IN FLORIDA!

We recently spent a week in Panama City Beach. I have been going to this beach every year since I was a little girl. I brought Tom here before we were married, Katie took her first steps here and both kids learned how to swim here. We have such wonderful memories in this place that is like a second home to us and this year we added more by introducing our grandson Will to PCB! Will was a real trouper! He drove with his mommy and I for 12 hours while his grandaddy Tom aka "Cookie" flew! Daddy Reagan stayed behind in Midland because he had another trip planned and only has so much vacation time... Will was an awesome car traveler - he has flown 20 times but this was his first long car trip! We had a great daily routine - every morning Will would wake up happily talking (loudly- doesn't seem to have a volume control) and I aka "Lovie", would feed him breakfast, play, put on sunscreen and then head to the beach with Tom. Mommy Katie would sleep as late as she could and then join us on the beach. Will would take his morning nap in a playpen and then play and swim in the ocean and then he'd swim in the pool - impressing everyone with his expertise and making the older kids with "floaties" feel pressured. He'd eat lunch at the beach and then take a nap with Tom at the condo while his mom & Lovie sunbathed. Then it was afternoon playtime, dinner, bath and bed.

Tom and I realized how much we miss the simple routine that babies bring into your life. The consistency and the fun in that routine. There is a deep peace that comes from knowing what you will do next and there is deep joy in seeing the world through the eyes of someone discovering every little thing.

Wishing you peace & joy this summer!